OTAs and minicamp are over, and we are now in the dark period of the NFL calendar before training camp. The 2019 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time to get in to the picks. I dig in to the selections and analyze if the team made the right picks, addressed their needs, ignored their needs, reached for a player, etc. I get in to all that and much more in this series. Let’s continue with the AFC West.
Denver Broncos
Selections: Round 1: TE Noah Fant; Round 2: OT Dalton Risner, QB Drew Lock; Round 3: DT Dre’Mont Jones; Round 5: LB Justin Hollins; Round 6: WR Juwann Winfree
Analysis: The Broncos are in a weird position in the state of the franchise; they are building their roster like they are contenders, but yet I feel they’re not ready, and should have begun a rebuild. There was a brief moment last year where they looked like serious contenders when they were 6-6 in December after winning three straight, but then lost the final four games. They entered the offseason with several questions and holes on the roster, and had an active free agency. After trading for former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, that was a clear indication that they feel they can still contend, as Flacco is not a real long-term solution. After adding several key players in free agency, the Broncos had an excellent draft, both to help the team now and build for the future.
Originally holding the 10th pick, the Broncos traded back with the Steelers (Devin Bush), and drafted the second tight end off the board, Noah Fant, with the 20th pick. Fant is an uber-athletic tight end who needs to get bigger and improve as a pass blocker, but that will improve over time. I see Fant as a Jordan Reed-type player, a former basketball player who runs great routes with great hands. Broncos fans should be excited about this guy.
With two second round picks back-to-back, the Broncos continued to build their offense, for now and the future, with offensive lineman Dalton Risner and quarterback Drew Lock. Let’s start with Risner, the Broncos o-line was an injury-filled disaster last year, with different starters at every position except left tackle (Garett Bolles). Risner is expected to compete for the starting right guard spot. Now to Drew Lock. Many had Lock mocked to the Broncos in the first round, so they got a great value for him in the second. Lock is the likely future starter a few years down the line, but for now, he has a great opportunity to learn and sit for at least a year behind Flacco. The Broncos are hoping for a Patrick Mahomes-Alex Smith type situation, similar to what the Ravens tried to do with Flacco last year. This could light a fire under Flacco, but if being traded and his eventual replacement being drafted can’t motivate Flacco, his days will be numbered in this league.
Conclusion: The Broncos are in NFL purgatory right now: they still feel they contend, but they are also rebuilding, there’s no clear identity for this team. They had a brief moment last year when they looked like contenders, but injuries to star players put that moment to rest. Even though the franchise is in a weird position, I do like what they did in the draft. They gave Flacco a new weapon and added a starter to the offensive line, but also began preparation for a new era of Denver football. I don’t know what type of season the Broncos could have in 2019. They could 11-5 or 5-11 under Flacco, who knows. But either way, the Broncos will be an exciting team, this year, or in a few years. They’re built for the future and now.
Kansas City Chiefs
Selections: Round 2: WR Mecole Hardman, S Juan Thornhill; Round 3: DT Khalen Saunders; Round 6: CB Rashad Fenton, RB Darwin Thompson; Round 7: G Nick Allegretti
Traded first round pick to Seahawks for DE Frank Clark
Analysis: You wouldn’t think for a team that went to the AFC Championship game last year would have so many roster questions, but that’s been the story of the offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs. They parted ways with several defensive starters, including Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Eric Berry, Eric Murray, and Steven Nelson, on a defense that was one of the worst in 2018. They had an active free agency, acquiring Frank Clark and Emmanuel Ogbah via trades and signing Tyrann Mathieu to a monster contract. There wasn’t much attention on the offense in free agency, as it was one of the best in 2018, but with yet the future of one of their star players potentially in jeopardy, the Chiefs had to act fast in the draft, addressing some key needs on both sides of the ball.
With their first selection of 2019, the Chiefs drafted speedy receiver Mecole Hardman. In the midst of the draft was the Tyreek Hill legal drama, and you could say it was a knee-jerk reaction to possibly losing Hill, or as a hint to Hill that they can replace him. Either way, it has been announced that Hill will not be suspended by the league, so Mahomes has two speedsters to throw to downfield. The team lost Chris Conley in free agency, so I thought they’d try to get a player like him, but I guess the fear of losing Hill shifted their focus to that type of player. They still have Sammy Watkins, who’s being paid like a No. 1 receiver, and need to play like it.
With their second selection in the second round, the Chiefs drafted at another position of need with safety Juan Thornhill. After parting with both starting safeties from 2018, the Chiefs had a major void alongside the Honey Badger, and KC got an athletic ballhawk. Thornhill finished tops at the combine in the vertical and broad jump and will be a great addition to a new look secondary.
Conclusion: Although the Chiefs roster looks a lot different in 2019, they are still one of the biggest powerhouses in the league. With Tyreek Hill no longer facing suspension, the high-flying offense led by Mahomes will continue to be one of the best. Hardman will join that receiver core led by Hill with Watkins and Demarcus Robinson. Damien Williams filled in nicely at running back after the team cut Kareem Hunt, and was rewarded with a contract extension. He is expected to be the starter, ahead of veteran signing Carlos Hyde.
The defense in 2019 will look very different, longtime starters gone and veteran acquisitions taking their place. Chris Jones had a breakout 2018 and will continue that dominance with former Seahawk Frank Clark, former Brown Emmanuel Ogbah, and rookie third-rounder Khalen Saunders. The linebackers also have a new core, after trading for former Jet Darron Lee and signing former Cowboy Damien Wilson. The secondary, you guessed it, also looks different after signing Tyrann Mathieu and Bashaud Breeland and parting ways with several starters from a year ago.
The Chiefs have had a ton of turnover in 2019, but are still one of the best teams in the league. With an electric offense and a new look defense, the present and future is bright in Kansas City.
Los Angeles Chargers
Selections: Round 1: DT Jerry Tillery; Round 2: S Nasir Adderley; Round 3: OT Trey Pipkins; Round 4: LB Drue Tranquill; Round 5: QB Easton Stick; Round 6: LB Emeke Egbule; Round 7: DT Cortez Broughton
Analysis: The Chargers have been flirting with the playoffs for years now, always falling just short, but they finally put it together in 2018 and had an unbelievable season, although they couldn’t make it past the divisional round. They aren’t really a team that makes splashy moves in free agency, but they often make the right moves. They don’t move around the board much, they are actually the only team in 2019 who used all of their original picks and didn’t acquire additional picks, just made the standard seven selections they were given, a rarity in today’s NFL. Following a free agency where they mainly retained their own guys and let some guys go, the Chargers had one of my favorite drafts of 2019.
The Chargers had a major void in the middle of the defensive line and desperately needed an upgrade, and they got that with their first round pick, Jerry Tillery. Tillery is a big, long human being, similar to Calais Campbell and DeForest Buckner. He has the ability to play on the interior and the edge, and will provide that interior pressure they have seriously been lacking. He’ll pair with Brandon Mebane on the interior with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram coming off the edge.
With their second round pick, the Chargers got a top safety in the draft, Nasir Adderley. The team parted with Jahleel Addae, so they had a void at the position alongside last year’s first rounder and Pro Bowler Derwin James. The competition for a starting job looks to be fierce, as Rayshawn Jenkins and Adrian Phillips will also be in the mix.
The team’s third rounder Trey Pipkins will be in the mix for the swing tackle job, and potentially could challenge Sam Tevi for the starting right tackle spot. Tevi was one of the worst tackles in football last season, so any upgrade the Chargers can find is welcome. Kind of surprised they didn’t address the position earlier, but I’m not opposed to the selections they made, and Pipkins could turn into a solid player and an eventual starter.
Finally, fifth round quarterback Easton Stick is an interesting prospect. He’s an athletic quarterback who could have a Taysom Hill-type role in the Chargers offense. He’ll compete for the backup job to Philip Rivers with Tyrod Taylor and Cardale Jones.
Conclusion: The Chargers were one of the best teams in 2018, and it’s unfortunate that they share a division with the Chiefs, because they’d be heavy division favorites in almost any other division. Their roster is stacked, with few holes, and they helped plug those holes in the draft. They got a playmaker on the interior of the defensive line, depth in the secondary and o-line, and a new backup quarterback. The only other move I could see the Chargers making is additional depth on the o-line, potentially an upgrade in the starting lineup. Other than that, the Chargers are built for a strong playoff run, and will challenge the Chiefs for top dog in the AFC West.
Oakland Raiders
Selections: Round 1: DE Clelin Ferrell, RB Josh Jacobs, SS Johnathan Abram; Round 2: CB Trayvon Mullen; Round 4: DE Maxx Crosby, CB Isaiah Johnson, TE Foster Moreau; Round 5: WR Hunter Renfrow; Round 7: DE Quinton Bell
Analysis: Coming in to the draft with three first round picks, the Raiders really set themselves up well for the next step in the Jon Gruden era. After trading away franchise staples Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, both for first round picks, this Oakland team had a ton of holes. They signed a ton, and I mean a TON of free agents this offseason, and once again will have a very different roster filled with veteran cast offs and new rookies trying to make an impact. I’m not a fan of Gruden, and how he’s constructing this roster, but he had a decent draft, though he could’ve made better picks.
The first of their three first round picks was, to put it lightly, a shocker. With the fourth overall pick, the Raiders selected defensive end Clelin Ferrell. After trading away Khalil Mack, the Raiders had a desperate need at edge rusher. They finished last in the league with just 13.0 sacks as a team, while Mack had 12.5 by himself with Chicago. They clearly went in to the first round with a plan, and they definitely wanted Ferrell from the get-go, which is the surprising part. Josh Allen was surprisingly still available, but they wanted Ferrell as a “high-character” guy to lead their team. He was a projected first round pick, but not top 10, let alone top 5. Definitely a shocking selection, but it was their top position of need, and we’ll see if his college production will translate to the NFL.
With their second selection in the first round, the Raiders drafted running back Josh Jacobs out of Alabama, the consensus top running back in the draft. The Raiders haven’t had an explosive running game since maybe Latavius Murray in 2015, but even that wasn’t super impressive. After trotting veterans Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin out there last year with Jalen Richard, the Raiders need a young spark in that running game, and they got the best talent in the draft at the position. He’ll likely be the starter and will finally give Derek Carr a running game he desperately needs.
With their third selection of the first round, the Raiders selected safety Johnathan Abram. Your typical hard-hitting, in the box safety with linebacker qualities, Abram will be the projected starting strong safety alongside former Ram Lamarcus Joyner in a secondary that has struggled, and has used a ton of draft capital. This selection does not bode well for Karl Joseph, who Gruden was essentially trying to phase out last year, although he’s a quality player and a former first-rounder from the pre-Gruden era in 2016. Also joining the secondary is second-round corner Trayvon Mullen. He’ll join 2017 first-rounder Gareon Conley, who struggled with injury his first year, but flashed his potential as a starter in 2018, along with former Lion Nevin Lawson and Daryl Worley.
Conclusion: This draft is a very important early step in the new Jon Gruden era for the Oakland Raiders. Holding three first round picks, although trading away some key guys to get them, was huge for the franchise, and I think they did a good job with them. They addressed top positions of need, although time will tell on whether they chose the right guys. The got an Clelin Ferrell to lead the pass rush, a new potential franchise running back, and a hard-hitting safety to lead the back end of the defense. Combining their nine draft picks with their several, and by several I mean a ton, of free agent signings, this roster looks a lot different this year, and it seems no one’s job is really safe. If this front office can find the right guys to build around from this crop of new players, the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders can start a potential dynasty.
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